Chapter 78 - Resurrection - Pt.1

At the peak of midnight the crew of the Fiddle got to task, assembling on deck to hear the plan before their run to the dock. The Captain was at the railing of the helm, speaking to them all as they stood, listening to his command in silence as he explained the details. Both Illias and Selera were nowhere in sight, but instead below deck. Illias was helped by Selera while they both carried a relatively compact, medium-sized locked chest from the crew storage between them. He glanced at her as she took her side of the chest without effort, thinking back to the moments before.

After their earlier discussion, Illias had returned to his cabin to sleep for a few hours and shortly before midnight he had knocked on the Captain’s door. A few quick moments passed, until he heard the shot-bolt sliding and the door opened. The Captain’s big frame shadowed the open door, his eyes strangely alight. Illias was ushered into the room, his eyes roaming. Selera sat at the desk, studying the papers and designs and Sialin still slept.

Illias spoke first, “We need to change the plan, Alletair. I need to be on the docks before the sun.”

“Are you sure of this, Illias?” asked the Captain.

Illias nodded, “We need to bring the Wolf between the heads, within sight of the city. Or better still, within short range to the docks themselves.” he said quietly.

The Captain looked at him hard, “At that distance we will be…” he stopped as Illias shook his head.

“No. You will dock under the cover of the Dragon’s Breath, the sheer presence of our return to port will strike fear into whoever is manipulating events. And if it is that prick of a Chancellor, then it will unsettle him leading to Selera’s discussion. I have returned Alletair, it is time I take up my mantle again, especially if the order has been remade.”

The Captain rested his hand on Illias’s shoulder, “How long has it been since you have cast on that scale? The Dragon’s Breath is suited to blanket an entire battlefield.” said the Captain, his eyes still narrowed.

Illias’s eyes lingered on Sialin, “Please, old friend. A little faith goes a long way. I need my things, the chest in storage. Selera, I ask for your assistance, if you will?”

Selera looked to the Captain to see that he was staring at Illias with a hard expression.

“What is this spell, the Dragon’s Breath?” she asked.

Illias chuckled, “A heavy mist, used on the battlefield to disorient, misdirect and create visual cover, plumes of flame light it from inside occasionally, as if an angry dragon was hidden within. A few months ago I considered casting it on the bay just for a laugh, to see how the locals would react. A mist they never have had, despite the season.”

He looked to the Captain, “You said return to our roots, war. You can feel it, the first arrow has been loosed. They failed. Now it is our move. As soon as we are close enough, I cast. Let it roll into port. I will walk the docks, and meet with her as panic sets in.”

“Who?” asked the Captian with a stern glare.

“The Madame, of course.” said Illias.

Selera looked at him as if he had lost his mind, “You want to pull off a stunt like this to visit a whorehouse?”

“They tried to wipe us off the face of the world, I may not care much for my own fate, but I do care about those around me.” he met her eyes, “Yes, I want to visit a whorehouse, undoubtedly the best of the docks, approved clientele only. Without question. It is amazing who you find there. ‘She’ is there.”

“Which ‘she’ would you be referring to Illias, almost all near the docks are full of ‘shes’?” asked Selera impatiently.

“Someone known to us, Alletair. An informant, she has her web cast throughout the city. I was surprised when she laid eye on me, a voice never leaves you when you have had its knife at your back.” Illias teased, noting the sudden shift in the Captain’s stance.

“Can you not tell me who you are talking of?” asked Selera.

“It is for Alletair to decide. Not me.”

The Captain watched Illias as he walked over to Sialin and looked down at her, his eyes narrowing while he thought, “No… Wrenna is here? It has been, fifty years?”

Illias nodded slowly, “Fifty three; she made me promise not to tell you, unless I wanted more than a threat.”

Selera watched her husband closely, “She was close to you?”

Alletair met her eyes, nodding slowly, “For a time.”

He glanced at Illias, a suspicious look in his eyes, “You haven’t been?”

“Laying with that crazy bitch? Gods no. But I make a point of dropping in, share a drink and tale. She has some fine wares and she is not one of them. She has a special relationship with her bodyguard though, like they can hear each other’s thoughts.”

Illias looked to Selera, “Wrenna likes you, she told me that you are more his type then she ever was.” he tapped his chest, “She has been keeping an eye on your back.”

Selera frowned in silent understanding.

“Wrenna will know where to find Septye, or even get word to him, she is an agent of his after all.” said Illias while looking at the papers on the desk.

“What is this? Is this what took them?” he quickly picked up a diagram.

He frowned, “This is what took the children?” his voice tightening.

The Captain watched his expression, “Illias, what is it?”

“Wrenna, she showed me a drawing, told me to keep an eye out, Septye is searching for these.”

Selera glanced across at Illias as they carried the chest. The sound of the crew on the deck above.

“Illias, I.” she offered.

“I don’t want to hear it Selera, I have been a bastard most of the time. I am not looking for your forgiveness.” Illias said, a tight smile on his face.

She nodded, leading them into the passage to the cabins, “Use mine, it is bigger.”

He nodded, following her lead into the cabin, his eyes quickly adjusting to the lack of light. They gently placed the flat-topped chest down on the floor.

“Stay, I will need your help.” he said, leaning down and turning the strange key in the lock, a sharp click and snap sounding.

He smiled, his eyes gleaming in the low light, hearing Selera sit on the bed.

“That is a dwarven chest. What do you have in there?” she said.

“Who I really am is in here. Alletair has one too. If all goes to hell, we kept these in the possibility of going down in flames. A last stand.” he chuckled, “Both of us, fools.”

He looked at her, gesturing with his head, “Lantern.”

Selera made a quick gesture and the room was flooded with a blue white glow.

Illias raised an eyebrow, “That works too. Come.”

Selera stood at his side, watching him lift the lid of the chest. She frowned, it was empty, except for a handle built into the bottom. She looked at him, watching as he reached in and gripped it. He quickly checked the surrounds.

“Stand behind me, I haven’t done this in a while.” Illias said.

He waited a moment as she moved, then slowly twisted the handle, a vibrant silver glow shimmering gently from within the dark space. He heard Selera gasp in shock as he unlatched the sides and lowered them to the floor, the walls of the chest now unfolded and laying flat and its lid sitting against the wall. He reached for the handle and lifted the hatch, letting it pivot on its recessed hinges exposing a stone stairway that led through the deck.

“What is this?” she asked, her disbelieving eyes drawn to the floor.

“I will show you.” he said as he placed his foot on the solid cut stone steps that led down and through the wooden floor of the cabin.

“Is that a dimensional space? A room?” she asked in wonder.

“Of a sorts, I suggest we do this fast, once we are underway it will be too dangerous. Movement is amplified once it is opened. This chest anchors the room beyond to the ship. The gentle sway of the deck while we are anchored will be manageable. But if the ship is moving, terrible. Quick.” he said before rapidly descending.

Selera watched as he disappeared quickly below floor level as if he had passed down through a trap-door and into a hidden compartment in the ship. She tentatively stepped into the opened chest, placing her feet on the steps and descending into the gently glowing stone passage. Passing down a number of stairs, she looked back to see the cabin through the exit. She frowned at the strangeness of the situation.

Shadow of the Eclipse: Chapter Timeline

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